Turkey-backed Syrian mercenaries arrive in Azerbaijan – SOHR
A group of Syrian fighters from
Turkey-backed factions have arrived in Azerbaijan on Sunday evening,
London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported based on “very
reliable sources.”
The current group had arrived in
Turkey from Syria’s Turkish-controlled Afrin earlier in the week.
There are more fighters waiting to
be deployed, SOHR said.
Journalist Lindsey Snell had
published recordings last week, claiming some 1,000 Turkish-backed Free Syrian
Army (TFSA) members were to be sent to Azerbaijan, adding that some may already
be there. She detailed similar claims throughout the week.
According to Snell, Hamza Division
members arrived in Baku on Tuesday. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry strongly
denied the claims.
On Sunday, Erkin Öncan, a
journalist with Sputnik Turkish, shared a video allegedly showing TFSA convoys
headed to Nagorno-Karabakh, citing “Azerbaijani sources.”
The United Nations has voiced
concerns for Turkey-backed groups committing war crimes in Syria, and groups of
Syrian militias have reportedly been deployed in Libya under Turkish control.
Tensions between Azerbaijan and
Armenia have been running high since July, when armed forces from the two
neighbours clashed in the Tovuz/Tavush region at the border between them,
leading to military and civilian casualties. Turkey has shown strong support
for Azerbaijan, and sent helicopters to its sister country for military drills
following the escalation.
